Automobile-theft-detector



T. C. GETTELL.

AUTOMOBILE THEFT DETECTOR ME ANS. APPLICATION FILED FEB.26. 1911. RENEWED MAR. 20. 1919.

1,305,352. w I Patented June 3,1919.

an uwntoz TRAVTLLA C. GETTELL, OF PTIILAIDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE-THEFT-DETECTOR MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed February 26, 1917; Serial No. 150,904. Renewed March 20, 1919. Serial No. 283,888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRAVILLA C. GE'I'IELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Theft-Detector Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is directed to automobile theft detector means, in the use of which an authorized person may set the device on leaving the vehicle, to cause the sounding of an alarm upon unauthorized attempt to use the vehicle. 1

The invention generally stated includes an alarm and a circuit therefor, having a break therein to normally prevent the sounding of the alarm. A circuit closing relay operates when energized to close this break to complete the alarm circuit, the circuiting of the relay being governed by means responsive to the attempt to use the vehicle. The circuit closing element is locked in circuit-closing position following the initial energization of the relay so that the alarm, once set, will continue to ring. A trip coil is arranged for operation to release the lock of the circuit closer to break the alarm circuit, a manuallyoperable and preferably key-controlled switch being provided to permit the author ized user to momentarily energize the trip coil to reset the parts, and to subsequently close a break in the main circuit, to set the device for theft-detecting operation.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile, partly broken out, to illustratethe application of the device.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the parts and circuits of the device. v i

The improved means is here shown as comprising abattery or other source of energy a, having the main circuit conductors l and 2 leading therefrom. An alarm, here shown as a bell b, has its circuit wires 3 and 6 branched across the main conductors 1 and 2, the conductor 6 bein interrupted through a circuit-closing mem er and cooperating parts. Thecircuit-closing parts are shown as an inverted U-shaped spring member 9,

. having one endisupported from a fixture and in electrical connection with the conductor,

6, a conductor-bar 6, shown as the armature of a clrcult-closing electromagnet e and a spring terminal e secured to a fixture, and

an electrical connection with the main conductor 2, at 7. The'armature e normally engages the locking spring 9, but is out of contact with the spring terminal 0 so that the alarm circuit is normally broken at this point. The conductor-bar e is resiliently supported by a spring strip e in order that upon release of-the locking spring g, the con ductor-bar may return to normal position.

A circuit-closing electromagnet eis arranged in position to attract the armature e upon energization of such electromagnet,

this movement of the armature causing the latter to contact with the spring terminal 6 and to ride beneath the free arm of'the locking sprin g. The free arm of said spring rides a ove and in contact with the upper surface of the armature, thereby holding or locking the armature independent of the electromagnet, to maintain the alarm circuit closed.

The electromagnet e is arranged to be responsive to an attempt to use the vehicle, and for this purpose is controlled by a device which will close the circuit to said electromagnet in such unauthorized attempt. Such device is here shown as a tube 0 having removable end-closures c and c and containing a fluid conductor, as mercury. Circuit terminals 3 and extend through the closures of the tube, the former being normally above the mercury, While the latter is at all times immersed in the mercury. The electromagnet circuit includes a conductor 8, leading from the main conductor 2, to the electromagnet, a conductor 3 leading there- 'from to the circuit terminal 3 and a conductor 4 leading from the circuit terminal 4* to a key-controlled switch d. With the switch d in operative or set position, as will be later explained, any attempt to use the vehicle will cause the mercury, through jar or tilting of the vehicle, to electrically ent gage the terminal 3*, energizing the electromagnet e, and closing, and automatically locking closed, the alarm circuit.

The switch d, which is. here shown as a key-controlled lock, has the bolt cl thereof adapted, under key control, for three positions, a normal position, as when the .vehicle is under authorized use, a set position, as when the device is set to cause the alarm to operate in the unauthorized attempt to use the vehicle. and a release position, for resetting the parts after actuation of the alarm.

The bolt at acts as a switch element in main conductor 1 is connected, and to the the strip h.

latter of which the mercury switch conductor 4 is connected. With the bolt in set position it is apparent that the circuit to the electromagnet e is complete, subject to the action of the mercury switch.

Following the actuation of the alarm, it is necessary that the owner should have means to reset the parts, and as the circuit closer is locked, such means must provide for the unlocking of this circuit closer. The

unlocking means here shown comprises an electromagnet f having an armature f supported on a spring strip 9 secured to a fixture, the free end of the armature having a projection 10, adapted, when the electromagnet is energized and the armature operated to engage the free arm of the locking spring vg, and move the latter from locking position with relation to the armature e to free the latter, and thereby open the alarm circuit. The electromagnet f is in circuit with the main conductor 2, and a conductor 5 leading from the electromagnet and terminating in a contact strip h in position to be engaged by a projection 0Z extending from the bolt 03, the contact occurring when the bolt has been moved to the release position. A circuit-completing conductor 11 for the electromagnet f leads from the contact block 01 to a contact strip at, to be engaged by the bolt in the contact of the latter with With the key switch'in normal position the main circuit is broken and no operation can occur., But leaving the vehicle the owner shifts said key switch to'set position, that is asillustrated in Fig. 2, whereupon the electromagnet e is in circuit with the battery except for the open mercury switch. If the device has'been installed beneath or in the seat, for example, the mere attempt of the unauthorized user to step into the vehi-v cle will close the circuit through the mercury switch, energize the electromagnet e,

and close and lock closed the alarm circuit.

The alarm will continue sounding until the person provided with a key shifts the bolt to close the trip magnet circuit, by engaging the strips 0Z and h, and thereby release the lock of the armature e, to open the alarm circuit.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, is:

1. An automobile theft detecting means, comprising an alarm and circuit therefor, a circuit closer for said circuit, an electromagnet for operating said circuit closer, a

manually operable switch, a circuit including said switch for said electromagnet, a

mercury switch also included in said last mentioned circuit, a locking means for holding the circuit closer incircuit closing position, an electromagnet for releasing the lock, and a circuit including said manually operable switch for said last mentioned electromagnet.

2. An automobile theft detecting means, comprising an alarm,,a normally open circuit therefor, an electromagnetic circuit closer for said normally open circuit, an automatic lock for maintaining the circuit closing relation of said circuit closer independentl-y of the electromagnetic influence,

a lock releasing means, a circuit for the elecmeans for holding the member in circuit closing position following and independently of the electromagnet, and electro-responsive means arranged in the other of-the said two circuits for operating said holding means to release position. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. TRAVILLA C. GETTELL.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER DOUGLASS, MARIAN GRooM. 

